One of the blogs I enjoy is a Pastor in the D.C. area named Mark Batterson.  Their team is doing awesome things in coffee house churches, theatres and all around Grand Central Station.  They have a coffeehouse church called Ebenezer’s {great story behind that – you should read it.}

Anyways, I just read a post of his today with this quote,

“Caffeine + the Holy Spirit = Awesome.”

Couldn’t agree more.

Travis

So I love ABC {Atlanta Bread Company} – cheap, tasty coffee, open spaces, lots of windows and actual background music.  And I love hanging out with AJ {or Amy Junior aka my daughter Audrey}.  Today I get a little time for both while Amy and the other three run errands.  Good times.

Travis

As Christ followers we hear all the time about serving in the church, serving our community, ect; but I think we often miss out one reason why this is so important.  It’s important because we all need healing.  And that healing often comes from serving.  We are broken, live in a broken world and – in a nutshell, God has been teaching me how my serving and my healing are inextricably one.

When I serve, it is not just for God or even other people – although those are the first two priorities – there is a third benefit…my own healing.  God fixes me as I work to fix this world and assist people.  I know, simple truth…but one that I have been sharing with people who are hurting and the lightbulbs are going on like crazy.

What area have you served in that has helped in your healing or growth? {click to share}

Travis

I just noticed a guy walking across the field outside of my window.  Young guy, hat and baggy shorts…nice day for a walk.  So he’s walking with his head mostly down but making good time when he just stops.  Looks up and to the left slightly.  Then glances to the right…all in about 10 seconds.  And then put his head back down and kept walking – same pace and style as before, as if nothing had happened.

But the truth is something important did happen.  Either he was remembering something he forgot or just checking his course again – either way he took the required time to stop and consider something before moving on…but he didn’t sit down and make an afternoon of it.

It’s all about rhythm.

I’ll run and run through a week getting one thing done after another – head down, strong pace, making progress!  But there are times when it is critical to pause and consider our course, consider what we may have forgotten or even consider that there may be a better route to go.

We can’t stay in pause too long or we’ll shut down, like the dvd player does if you leave it too long…and our lives will get stagnate and fuzzy.  At some point, whether we are fully confident or not we have to get moving again.

But I wonder how many times my life could have taken a better course if I would have learned to pause, consider and then restart in good rhythm.

What about you?  Do you pause?  Not enough?  Too Long?  Click here to spill it…

Travis

Remember when you were a kid and you literally ran and played until you dropped?  Ava had that kind of day today.  After prayer time tonight I went into the kitchen to finish getting a couple things together and called her to me…this was about 3 minutes after I left the room…and she was already out.  I don’t have the heart to move her so there she’ll stay, at least until I go to bed.

I can still remember that feeling of being so exhausted I just couldn’t move another inch.  Well, lately I’ve felt that way at like 3 in the afternoon on a regular basis, but it is not from excessive exercise and fun I can promise you.  And there’s something awesome about sleeping in that big green chair or on the couch…

And those footed pajamas…man those were great.

Anyways, what do you remember about being a kid?

Travis

We at Faith Assembly and at Transit believe in the principle of learning from those ahead of you and teaching those behind you – while walking, learning and being transparent with those right beside you in your station of life.

I came across this quote today that puts it in another way.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Every man is a hero and an oracle to somebody.” 

I guess it’s important for me to keep reminding myself that whether I believe it is true or not, I’m influencing people – many whom I may never realize were influenced.  Maybe they heard 3 seconds of a conversation I was in or heard through someone else that I said something another person thought they heard that I said.  

Wow, no pressure to be on top of things all the time right?  Not really.  Unnecessary pressure to be perfect is ridiculous – just doing our best and being honest along the way is the best bet.

So…Who do you gain wisdom from?  Who’s your hero?

Travis, “the student and the teacher”

Ok, maybe not THE Garden of Eden, but pretty darn nice as you can see {click for a bigger  - awesomer – version].  

The family went to the Columbia Zoo and Botanical Gardens last Friday as part of the celebration of Austin’s 8th b-day.  It was super nice outside and we had a great time…and Austin got a chance to feed a giraffe {which is really a big deal for him because he has always had a fascination with them}.  

I love my family.  What on earth was God thinking to be so generous to me??  I have no idea but I’m not going to question it too much.

Travis